Tag Archives: Vesak Festival

Vesak Festival – In Honour of Lord Buddha

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Being a Buddhist country, Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world to experience the Vesak Festival which is an important annual event for devotees. Those planning Sri Lanka travel excursions during this time can make use of Jetwing Travels which is a reputed name in the tour industry. They offer a variety of Sri Lanka tours that will take you around the country, which is a treat especially during Vesak.

This festival generally takes place on the full moon during a particular lunar month which usually falls in May. Honouring the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha, Vesak is a festive occasion and ceremonies and celebrations last for around a week. A unique feature during this time is the setting up and display of a wide range of colourful lanterns as well as massive pandols that pictorially depict stories from the 550 Jataka Katha which are stories on the past life of Lord Buddha. Another custom during this time is the installation of various stalls around the streets, where free food and drinks are given as an act of reverence to this sacred day.

 

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Vesak Festival – The festival of light

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Celebrating the birth, death and the attainment of enlightenment of Lord Buddha, the Vesak Festival is of utmost importance to Buddhists all across the globe. Observe the many festivities that take place on during the season while lodging at one of the Sri Lanka hotels such as Heritance Ahungalla known to be one of the most sought after Sri Lanka beach hotels ideal for a holiday in this exotic location. Falling on a full moon poya day, typically on the 5th or 6th luna month, this festival of light blows full blast upon the island as glittering lights wink along the roadways and multicoloured lanterns gleam, gently swaying in the breeze. A common sight during this time are gigantic Vesak pandols depicting stories from Jataaka stories colourfully illustrated and adorned with thousands of glittering lights twinkling rhythmically. The Vesak Festival for Sri Lankans is a time where religion and festivity come together to create a unique combination not experienced anywhere else.

 

Jayani Senanayake is a writer who dabbles in travel and all things exotic. Under the pseudonym of Calliope Sage, she writes of the allures that must simply be discovered.

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Vesak Festival – a bright and holy festival

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Vesak is celebrated by Buddhist all around the world. The festival falls on the full moon day of May each year. This is celebrated to commemorate some of the important events in the life of Lord Buddha, the teacher of Buddhism. These events namely are the birth of Prince Siddhartha, the enlightenment of Lord Buddha and the passing away of Lord Buddha which occurred over 2500 years.

Countries like Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia celebrates this festival in a very high calibre. People in Sri Lanka get ready for this event months ahead. On the day of Vesak temples are full of people who are observing sill. Most of the roads are covered with Buddhist flags which sway in the wind creating a very charming effect. By night people who did not observe sill go to temples wearing all white to offer flowers, light lamps and incense sticks for Lord Buddha.

From the day time free food will be offered from places called “Dansal”. Special main meals like rice with a few curries are common during day time. People stay in queues to get into these dansal. One should at least try these once. In the evening and in the night the most common things to be served are the free soft drinks, sago and ice-cream; little children crowd around these places with their parents to get a free treat.

All the Buddhist houses will be decorated with lanterns made from bamboo, and also a Buddhist flag in every house is a common site. The street lights are not required on this day because these lanterns illuminate a serene light and create a unique atmosphere. Special lantern competitions are organized in several places of the country. You can witness the creativity of the Sri Lankan people by visiting one of these competitions. Some of these lanterns are so amazingly beautiful. Pandols are created in different places; they are all based on different jathaka stories, which display previous births of Lord Buddha. The lights switching on and off on the pandol in different patterns are amazing to watch.

The best way to experience this event is to use a Sri Lanka car rental, one of the top companies that provide this service is Malkey Rent a Car. This company even provides airport transfers Sri Lanka.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Vesak Festival, a Buddhist highlight

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The Vesak Festival is an important occasion for Sri Lankan Buddhists, who join other Buddhists around the world in celebrating this event which falls on the day of the full moon in the month of May. For the Buddhist faithful this religious event has become a cultural occasion as well, with many interesting customs and traditions being associated with it.

Vesak Day has a threefold significance for Buddhists. According to Buddhist scriptures the birth of the Buddha occurred on such a full moon night in May, when Queen Mahamaya gave birth to the future Buddha. The second momentous event which took place on this day is the Enlightenment of the Buddha who thereby became omniscient and the Supreme Being, all-knowing and free of all defilements. Finally the death of the Buddha (Parinibbana) took place on this day.

Many unique activities are associated with Vesak in Sri Lanka. Bodhi Poojas venerating the sacred Bo tree and taking strict vows of ‘Sil’ on this day are strong traditions amongst the faithful. Devotional songs are sung and publicly aired and many homes prepare their own Vesak lanterns, specially made for the occasion. A much looked forward to aspect of the celebration is the colourful pandols which are constructed for the occasion; these are huge creations featuring vivid illustrations and hundreds of light bulbs, depicting a ‘Jataka’, a story of a former incarnation of the Buddha, which typically have an inherent moral.

As one might expect on this holy day the local temples are inundated with devotees, who take ‘Atasil’ vows, listen to sermons delivered by monks, give alms, offer flowers, light lamps and incense and cultivate wholesome thoughts.

Many people get together to set up a ‘Dansala’, a stall offering free food or drink to anyone who passes by. During the sacred week, the selling of alcoholic drinks is prohibited and the sale of fresh meat is halted. Slaughterhouses are closed and many devotees refrain from eating any kind of meat.

Visitors to Sri Lanka desiring a hotel in Sigiriya will find an excellent choice in Hotel Sigiriya, one of the fine hotels Sigiriya offers. This outstanding accommodation provides comfortable rooms and courteous service.

At the Feet of a Master – Vesak Festival

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Vesak is a holy day for millions of Buddhist around the world as it commemorates Gautama Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and ‘parinirvana’ or passing away. The exact day of the festival varies according to the lunar calendars of various cultures but in Theravada Buddhist countries following the Buddhist Calendar it generally falls on a full moon day on the 6th lunar month which is usually in May. The name Vesak itself is a derivative of the name for the lunar month occurring from April to May. Although festivals to mark Vesak had been taking place for several centuries, the decision to celebrate Vesak worldwide as Buddha’s birthday was taken at the first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950. The United Nations started observing Vesak at their head quarters and offices around the world from 1999.

Vesak is celebrated by Buddhists according to the traditions laid down in their cultures. In Sri Lanka many Buddhists rise early in the morning to gather at temples in time for the first prayers, to offer flowers, light candles and joss sticks to honour the Buddha, hoist Buddhist flags. Many wear simple white clothing and spend the whole day in the temple meditating and listening to sermons. Refraining from consuming alcohol and meat of any sort is advocated and liquor shops and abattoirs remain closed for several days.
This is also the day that Buddhists will make an effort to bring a little bit of happiness into the lives of the less fortunate by distributing gifts of food and clothing among the destitute and to inmates of charitable homes. Food and refreshment is also distributed to those engaged in religious observances at temples.

Vesak in Sri Lanka while an important religious occasion is also a cultural festival of sorts as it highlights the Sri Lankan way of observing the festival. Homes, public places even whole streets are decorated with coloured electric lights, paper lanterns of all shapes and sizes, oil lamps, flags and bunting. In the bigger towns there is always a big ‘torana’ with pictures depicting Buddha’s various reincarnations lit up with elaborately designed electric circuitry. A carnival like atmosphere prevails. Adding to the buzz are free food stalls all over cities and main highways with offerings ranging from soft drinks to ice cream and complete meals. Groups of people from religious societies, businesses and government organizations sing devotional songs on stages put up for the purpose. During Vesak there is a massive movement of people all over the country as they go on pilgrimages particularly to the holy cities of Anuradhapura and Kandy and move from villages to cities to worship at famous temples and to generally be a part of the celebrations.

Shanti Travels Sri Lanka offers tailor made Sri Lanka tour packages to suit any budget as well as to expose visitors to the best possible travel experience. Several well thought out holiday packages Sri Lanka is offered so that travelers will discover the country’s best natural aspects as well as its diverse culture and people.